Radial heat sink with heat pipe set therein

ABSTRACT

A radial heat sink includes a hollow core base with mounting grooves axially located on the inside wall thereof and a locating groove located on an end wall at one end thereof, radiation fins arranged around the periphery of the hollow core base, and heat pipes inserted through the end wall of the hollow core base and press-fitted into the mounting grooves and the locating groove and kept in flush with the end wall of the hollow core base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to radial heat sink technology and more particularly to a radial heat sink that has at least one heat pipe set therein and is practical for use with a CPU, an LED lamp or any other electronic component that emits heat during its operation.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

A conventional radial heat sink is known comprising a cylindrical base and a plurality of radiation fins radially arranged around the periphery of the cylindrical base. The cylindrical base can be a solid or hollow member, and shaped like a round tube, rectangular tube or polygonal tube. This design of radial heat sink is adapted for use with a CPU, an LED lamp or any other electronic component that emits heat during its operation. However, simply using the cylindrical base to transfer heat from the attached heat-emitting device to the radiation fins cannot achieve quick dissipation of heat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a radial heat sink that has at least one heat pipe set therein and is practical for use with a CPU, an LED lamp or any other heat-emitting electronic component for quick dissipation of waste heat.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a radial heat sink comprises a hollow core base with mounting grooves axially located on the inside wall thereof and a locating groove located on an end wall at one end thereof, radiation fins arranged around the periphery of the hollow core base, and heat pipes inserted through the end wall of the hollow core base and press-fitted into the mounting grooves and the locating groove and kept in flush with the end wall of the hollow core base.

Further, the hollow core base comprises at least one mounting groove axially extending along an inside wall thereof for receiving the at least one heat pipe, an end wall located on the bottom end and carrying the at least one locating groove, and at least one through hole cut through the end wall in communication with the at least one locating groove for the passing of the at least one heat pipe. Further, each heat pipe has a flat outer surface kept in flush with the outer surface of the end wall.

Further, the heat pipe can be a U-shaped heat pipe, L-shaped heat pipe, straight heat pipe or arched heat pipe.

The hollow core base further comprises a plurality of ribs respectively extending along at least one of two opposite lateral sides of each of the at least one locating groove and at least one mounting groove. The ribs are deformed to clamp the at least one heat pipe in the at least one locating groove and/or the at least one mounting groove.

Further, an annular packing plate may be fastened to the bottom end of the core base and stopped against the bottom edge of each radiation fin and kept in flush with the outer surface of the end wall and the flat outer surface of each heat pipe.

Further, the quantity, configuration or distribution arrangement of the radiation fins can be changed according to different requirements. There are no limitations with respect to the connection between the radiation fins and the core base. The radiation fins can be formed integral with the peripheral wall of the core base. Alternatively, the radiation fins can be fastened to the peripheral wall of the core base by insertion or by soldering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique top elevational view of a radial heat sink in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an oblique bottom elevational view of the radial heat sink in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the radial heat sink in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the radial heat sink in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of the radial heat sink in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of the core base of the radial heat sink in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing illustrating a rib deformation operation according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 7, illustrating the rib deformed and clamped on the heat pipe.

FIG. 9 is another sectional side view of the radial heat sink in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an oblique top elevational view of a radial heat sink in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an annular packing plate fastened to the bottom end of the core base and stopped against the bottom edge of each radiation fin.

FIG. 11 is a sectional side view of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an oblique top elevational view of a radial heat sink in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional side view of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an oblique top elevational view of a radial heat sink in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a sectional side view of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a bottom view of a radial heat sink in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a bottom view of a radial heat sink in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a bottom view of a radial heat sink in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a radial heat sink in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a core base 1, a plurality of radiation fins 2, and at least one, for example U-shaped, heat pipe 3.

The core base 1 is a tubular metallic member. The radiation fins 2 are equiangularly fastened to the periphery of the core base 1. The U-shaped heat pipe 3 is mounted inside the core base 1. The core base 1 has mounting grooves 11 located on the inside wall thereof for receiving the U-shaped heat pipe 3. When the two distal ends of the U-shaped heat pipe 3 are respectively press-fitted into one respective mounting groove 11 in the core base 1, the middle part 31 of the U-shaped heat pipe 3 is exposed to the outside of the core base 1 for direct contact with the heat-emitting device (CPU, LED lamp, or any other electronic component part that emits heat during its operation) for quick dissipation of waste heat from the heat-emitting device.

As shown in FIG. 6, the mounting grooves 11 extend axially along the inside wall of the core base 1. The core base 1 has its one end opened (see FIG. 3), and its other end closed, i.e., provided with an end wall 12 (see FIG. 4). The core base 1 further has a plurality of mounting holes 121 cut through the end wall 12, and two through holes 13 cut through the end wall 12 and a locating groove 14 located on the outer surface of the end wall 12 and extending between the two through holes 13. The two distal ends of the U-shaped heat pipe 3 are respectively inserted through the two through holes 13 into the respective mounting grooves 11 in the core base 1 to let the middle part 31 be press-fitted into the locating groove 14. Further, the middle part 31 of the U-shaped heat pipe 3 has a flat outer surface kept in flush with the outer surface of the end wall 12 (see FIG. 5).

The design of the aforesaid two through holes 13 is adapted for the mounting of the U-shaped heat pipe 3. According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, an L-shaped heat pipe is used wherein the vertical end of the L-shaped heat pipe is inserted through one through hole 13 into one mounting groove 11, and the horizontal end of the L-shaped heat pipe is press-fitted into the locating groove 14 and kept in flush with the outer surface of the end wall 12. To fit this application example, it simply needs to make one single through hole 13 for the mounting of the L-shaped heat pipe.

Further, the core base 1 can be made having a rib 111 extending along each of two opposite sides of each of the mounting grooves 11 and the locating groove 14 (see FIG. 1, FIG. 3 or FIG. 7). After the heat pipe 3 is press-fitted into the mounting grooves 11 and the locating groove 14, the ribs 111 are deformed to clamp the heat pipe 3, enhancing the tightness of the connection between the core base 1 and the heat pipe 3, and therefore no further soldering procedure is necessary.

Similar to conventional techniques, the quantity, configuration or distribution arrangement of the radiation fins 2 can be changed according to different requirements. For example, the radiation fins 2 can be arranged around the whole or a part of the periphery of the core base 1. There are no limitations with respect to the connection between the radiation fins 2 and the core base 1. The radiation fins 2 can be formed integral with the peripheral wall of the core base 1. Alternatively, the radiation fins 2 can be fastened to the peripheral wall of the core base 1 by insertion or by soldering.

As shown in FIG. 7, the ribs 111 protrude from the inside wall of the core base 1 and respectively extend along the two opposite lateral sides of the mounting groove 11. By means of using stamping dies 5 to impart a pressure to each rib 111 toward the mounting groove 11 (see the direction of the arrowhead sign), the ribs 111 are deformed (see FIG. 8) and clamped on the heat pipe 3, securing the heat pipe 3 tightly to the mounting groove 11 (see FIG. 8 and FIG. 9).

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, an annular packing plate 4 can be fastened to the bottom side of the core base 1 and stopped against the bottom edge of each of the radiation fins 2. After installation, the bottom surface of the annular packing plate 4 is kept in flush with the outer surface of the end wall 12 and the flat outer surface of the middle part 31 of the heat pipe 3 (see FIG. 11).

According to the design of the present invention, the number of the at least one heat pipe 3 can be increased or reduced to fit different application requirements. As shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the core base 1 has multiple mounting grooves 11 and locating grooves 14, and three U-shaped heat pipes 3 are respectively press-fitted into the mounting grooves 11 and/or the locating grooves 14. Further, L-shaped heat pipes or heat pipes of other configurations may be used to substitute for the U-shaped heat pipes 3.

Further, the core base 1 can be made in a cylindrical shape, a rectangular shape, a polygonal shape, or any of a variety of other configurations, with at least one heat pipe set therein. The mounting grooves 11 are configured to fit the heat pipes. FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate the use of a rectangular core base 1. Except the configuration, the structural characteristics of the core base 1, the radiation fins 2 and the heat pipes 3, the design of the ribs 111 and the arrangement of the middle part 31 of the heat pipe 3 in flush with the outer surface of the end wall 12 remain unchanged.

FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate the use of an L-shaped heat pipe 3 a. According to this embodiment, the core base 1 has only one single through hole 13 for the insertion of the L-shaped heat pipe 3 a so that the vertical end and horizontal end of the L-shaped heat pipe 3 a can be respectively press-fitted into the mounting groove 11 and the locating groove 14.

FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate the use of a straight heat pipe 3 b. According to this embodiment, the straight heat pipe 3 b is press-fitted into the locating groove 14 of the core base 1 and kept in flush with the outer surface of the end wall 12 of the core base 1. Therefore, the core base 1 according to this embodiment does not provide the aforesaid mounting grooves 11 or through holes 13. Further, the core base 1 can be made having multiple locating grooves 14 for the mounting of multiple straight heat pipes 3 b.

FIGS. 20 and 21 illustrate the use of an arched heat pipe 3 c. According to this embodiment, the arched heat pipe 3 b is press-fitted into the arched locating groove 14 c on the end wall 12 of the core base 1 and kept in flush with the outer surface of the end wall 12 of the core base 1. Therefore, the core base 1 according to this embodiment does not provide the aforesaid mounting grooves 11 or through holes 13. Further, the core base 1 can be made having multiple arched locating grooves 14 c for the mounting of multiple arched heat pipes 3 b.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. A radial heat sink, comprising: a hollow core base having a top end and a bottom end and at least one locating groove located on said bottom end; a plurality of radiation fins arranged around the periphery of said hollow core base; and at least one heat pipe mounted in said hollow core base, each said heat pipe having at least one part thereof press-fitted in one said locating groove and kept in flush with an outer surface of the bottom end of said hollow core base.
 2. The radial heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hollow core base comprises at least one mounting groove axially extending along an inside wall thereof for receiving said at least one heat pipe.
 3. The radial heat sink as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hollow core base comprises an end wall located on said bottom end, and at least one through hole cut through said end wall in communication with said at least one locating groove for the passing of said at least one heat pipe.
 4. The radial heat sink as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least one locating groove is located on an outer surface of said end wall.
 5. The radial heat sink as claimed in claim 4, wherein said hollow core base further comprises a plurality of mounting holes cut through said end wall for mounting.
 6. The radial heat sink as claimed in claim 4, wherein each said heat pipe has a flat outer surface kept in flush with the outer surface of said end wall.
 7. The radial heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said heat pipe has a U-shaped profile.
 8. The radial heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said heat pipe has an L-shaped profile.
 9. The radial heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said heat pipe is a straight heat pipe.
 10. The radial heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said heat pipe has an arched profile.
 11. The radial heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hollow core base further comprises at least one rib extending along at least one of two opposite lateral sides of each said locating groove, each said rib being deformable to clamp one said heat pipe in one said locating groove.
 12. The radial heat sink as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hollow core base further comprises a plurality of ribs extending along at least one of two opposite lateral sides of each said locating groove and each said mounting groove, each said rib being deformable to clamp one said heat pipe in one said locating groove or one said mounting groove.
 13. The radial heat sink as claimed in claim 3, further comprising annular packing plate fastened to the bottom end of said core base and stopped against a bottom edge of each of said radiation fins and kept in flush with the outer surface of said end wall and a flat outer surface of each said heat pipe. 